The Campagna Center is pleased to announce 2015 will mark 70 years of commitment and service to the Alexandria community. Toasting to this milestone, The Campagna Center, in collaboration with Platinum Presenting Sponsor Passport Auto Group and other area business sponsors, will host The Platinum Gala on Saturday, May 9th, 2015 in the evening at The Westin Alexandria. The gala will honor the legacy of service that The Campagna Center volunteers and staff have brought to the children and families of Alexandria over the past seven decades. The evening will include a cocktail reception, dinner and dancing with live entertainment provided by Prime Time Band.
About The Campagna Center
“The history of The Campagna Center is inextricably linked to the history of Alexandria itself,” says Dr. Tammy Mann, President & CEO. “As I have had the pleasure of meeting many people who knew and worked with one of our most beloved Executive Directors, Ms. Elizabeth Ann Campagna, I have come to understand her as a leader who embodied a deep commitment to confronting social justice issues with courage and compassion. She understood that a community rich in resources had a responsibility to use those resources to help improve the lives of others, especially children. As the merits of Head Start were being debated nationwide, Elizabeth Ann and the late Vola Lawson worked together to secure funding needed to run Alexandria’s first Head Start program.”
“One of the organization’s original goals—to provide leadership in the creative resolution of critical social problems—remains a guiding beacon for the work we perform so passionately today. Serving nearly 2,000 people from cradle to career in 52 classrooms throughout Alexandria, The Campagna Center provides high quality early learning experiences through preschool programs, and enrichment learning and guidance through high school. Through eight levels of English Language Learning classes, immigrant and refugee adults learn to survive and thrive. It is vitally important to reflect on the progress made in this fine city and to use it as our springboard into the future.”
Event Details:
Saturday, May 9th, 2015 in the evening
The Westin Alexandria
Alexandria, VA
Tickets:
General Admission Tickets are $200 each.
Host Committee Tickets are $500 each or $1000 per couple.
Tickets will be available for purchase at http://www.campagnacenter.org/platinumgala.
The Shakespeare Theatre Company, recipient of the 2012 Regional Theatre Tony Award®, presents its Annual Dinner and Mock Trial at Sidney Harman Hall(610 F Street NW) on Monday, May 11, 2015. This marks the 20th year that Shakespeare Theatre Company has put on the Mock Trial. The evening begins with dinner at 5:30 p.m. in the Forum, followed by the Trial at 7:30 p.m. in the theatre. A special session of the Supreme Court of La Mancha will review the decisions of the Family Court to declare Don Quixote mentally incompetent and his subsequent placement under the guardianship of his niece, Antonia.
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg will preside and will be accompanied by Justice Stephen Breyer, as well as Chief Judge Merrick Garland and Judge Patricia Millett, both of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, and Judge Amy Berman Jackson of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Tom Goldstein of Goldstein & Russell P.C. andCarter Phillips of Sidley Austin LLP will argue the case. The Trial will be moderated byAbbe D. Lowell of Chadbourne & Parke LLP, chair of the STC Bard Association and STC Board of Trustees member.
Michael Kahn, Artistic Director of Shakespeare Theatre Company says of Mock Trial, “As I’ve often said, Shakespeare doesn’t tell us what to think, he tells us what to think about. This is what Mock Trial does so stunningly, it uses these classic stories as lenses to look at seemingly old issues and bring them to our modern, and legal, world.”
Shakespeare Theatre Company’s Mock Trial is sponsored by the Bard Association, STC’s affinity group for Washington’s legal community.
Since 1994, the Shakespeare Theatre Company has hosted a Mock Trial based on a play from STC’s mainstage season. The fictional court case poses a legal question, or questions, and the audience must act as the jury to decide the fate of the characters. The Trial aims to examine the links between classic works and contemporary legal theory in a way that is both thought-provoking and entertaining. Past Mock Trials have explored whether Malvolio (Twelfth Night) was entitled to damages for wrongful imprisonment; Iago (Othello) was guilty of the murders of Desdemona and Othello; Hamlet (Hamlet) was insane when he murdered Polonius; and if Sir John Falstaff (Henry IV) should have been compensated for his services to Prince Hal and reinstated as a member of the royal court. Last year’s Mock Trial concentrated on the characters in William Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure and argued whether the Duke of Vienna should be held responsible for abuses of power perpetuated by his appointed representative, and debated issues of illegal secret surveillance, false imprisonment, negligent appointment of an unfit deputy, and disrespect of commitment to religious vows.
This season’s Mock Trial focuses on the characters in Dale Wasserman’s Man of La Mancha and asks the question: Did the Family Court commit reversible errors of law and fact in determining that Don Quixote was mentally incompetent, and should the Family Court have appointed Sancho Panza, Don Quixote’s loyal friend, as his guardian, rather than his niece Antonia?
SCENARIO
As word spread of Alonso Quixana’s (self-named and known to the world as Don Quixote) exhibited signs of mental illness or incompetence, his niece Antonia petitioned the Family Court to appoint her to be his guardian to protect his financial interests and to make medical decisions for him. In support of her petition, Antonia described Don Quixote’s hallucinations, his instigation of ill-conceived and ill-fated battles, his unwitting contribution to the brutal treatment of Aldonza, and his persistent inability to separate reality from illusion. Antonia stated that Don Quixote was unable to manage his assets, pay his medical expenses, or make financial decisions in his own best interests, and that he had been the victim of financial exploitation without even realizing others were taking advantage of him. Antonia’s fiancé, Dr. Carrasco, provided a petition of incompetency claiming to be Don Quixote’s treating physician and asserting that Don Quixote’s mental disability was permanent and that he had no ability to understand the nature of the proceedings or reasons for appointment of a guardian.
The Family Court heard extensive testimony about Don Quixote’s ill-fated escapades during his career as a knight errant, about his discussion of his “dreams,” his tendency to burst into song, and his claims of being a knight. His friends testified about Don Quixote’s idealism, courtesy, generosity, gallantry, and nobility. Sancho Panza said Don Quixote knew he was not really a knight, but simply liked to conceive of a nobler world inspired by courtesy and bravery. Don Quixote’s attorney argued that he did not need a guardian, but that if the Court disagreed, it should appoint Sancho Panza, not Antonia.
The Family Court appointed Antonia as Don Quixote’s guardian. On petition for review by the Supreme Court of La Mancha, Don Quixote has asked the Court to decide two questions:
1. Did the Family Court commit reversible errors of law and fact in determining that Don Quixote was mentally incompetent within the meaning of the laws governing appointment of guardians of property and persons?
2. Assuming Don Quixote was not fully competent to manage his affairs or make decisions about his medical treatment, should the Family Court have rejected Antonia’s petition as motivated by fraud and self-interest, and instead have appointed Sancho Panza, Don Quixote’s loyal friend, as his guardian?
TICKET INFORMATION
Interested in Premium Seating and Dining with the Participants before the Trial?Tickets to the Dinner and Trial ($350) are available now. To purchase tickets please call 202.547.3230 ext. 2330 or contact MockTrial@ShakespeareTheatre.
Trial-only Ticket Prices
A Price: $75
B Price: $50 (limited availability)
Student: $20 (valid student ID required when picking up tickets)
Tickets on sale for STC donors and season subscribers on March 18 at noon.
Tickets for the general public on sale March 23 at noon.
For more information please contact MockTrial@ShakespeareTheatre.
The Navy Safe Harbor Foundation (NSHF) presents the first annual Fashion for Fighters Gala Saturday, May 16 at The Army Navy Club. The event, held from 6:00 – 10:00 p.m. is being held to raise critically needed funds for wounded, ill and injured U.S. Navy, Coast Guardsmen and their families. NSHF is dedicated to supporting the recovery of these service men and women by assisting them with resources not currently provided by government or through their general community.
The chicest black tie (dress uniform optional) event of the season, Fashion for Fighters is a night for comradery, support and giving back. Guests will enjoy fashion shows by four local women’s and menswear designers, all American-made and run brands, including: Christopher Schafer, Kim Elleen and Sophie Blake Jewelry.
VIP tickets are available, which include an exclusive pre-event fashion presentation starting at 6:00 p.m., open bar, passed hors d’oeuvres, and treated to a swag bag full of products from gala sponsors. General admission ticket holders are welcome to partake in passed hors d’oeuvres and cash bar beginning at 7:00 p.m.
Inspired by the growing needs of the military community, Navy Safe Harbor Foundation (NSHF) was created to efficiently identify and meet the needs of wounded, ill and injured Sailors, Coast Guardsmen, Marines and their families. NSHF fills in the gaps of current non-medical provisions through collaboration with federal and civic resources. Through its efforts, every service member is given an opportunity for full recovery by providing financial assistance, respite care, special equipment, transportation, recreational opportunities, and other services.
The Navy Safe Harbor Foundation (NSHF) is an IRS recognized 501(c)3 tax-exempt non-profit organization and is not affiliated with the United States Navy, Coast Guard or Department of Defense.
WHEN: Saturday, May 16, 2015 | 6:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
WHERE: The Army and Navy Club | 901 17th St NW | Washington, DC 20006
RSVP: Tickets must be purchased in advance – media passes are available. Click here to register.
Navy Safe Harbor Foundation is fortunate to have the support of families, friends, military members, and community. The organization asks that we as Americans, all do our part to help the seriously wounded, ill, and injured Sailors, Coast Guardsmen, and their families by volunteering, participating in a fundraising event, or making a donation . . . your support is greatly appreciated!
WHEN: Sunday, May 17, 2015 11:30AM – 3:00PM
WHERE: Shinola Washington, DC
1534 14th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005
MORE: About Shinola | In 2011, Shinola, a Bedrock Manufacturing Company, LLC brand, was conceived with the belief that products should be built to last, and they should be built in America. As makers of modern, handcrafted watches, bicycles, leather goods, journals and pet accessories, we are proud to be based in Detroit, a community-minded city with a strong manufacturing legacy. We built our watch and leather factories within the College for Creative Studies in the former Argonaut building. As a new company with a storied name, we stand for skill at scale, the preservation of craft and the beauty of industry.
Shinola’s Washington, DC Flagship will open at 1361 14th Street NW in 2015.
About the Washington Humane Society | The Washington Humane Society cultivates a community of people and animals inspired by compassion, where all animals can enjoy safe and happy homes.
The Cathedral Choral Society will present the final concert of its 2014/15 season, Great Opera Choruses, on Sunday, May 17 at 4:00 p.m. The program of well-loved opera arias and choruses includes works by Wagner, Bellini, Gounod, Verdi, Puccini, Mascagni, and Boito. The Cathedral Choral Society, conducted by Music Director J. Reilly Lewis, will be joined by Jessica Julin, soprano; Ben Wager, bass; and the Washington National Opera Children’s Chorus.
“This concert will feature magnificent opera music, sacred and profane, perfect for the Cathedral,” said J. Reilly Lewis. “This is my first time programming opera for this chorus, and these gorgeous works capture all the emotions of great opera.”
Selections will be performed from Wagner, Die Meistersinger; Bellini, Norma; Gounod, Faust; Verdi, Nabucco; Puccini, Tosca; Mascagni, Cavalleria Rusticana; Puccini, Manon Lescaut; and Boito, Mefistofele.
“We are thrilled to be performing opera in the Cathedral for the first time,” said Genevieve Twomey, Executive Director of the Cathedral Choral Society. “This music is rich, exciting, dramatic, and engaging – and to experience this in such a grand space will be a unique and memorable experience.”
The Cathedral Choral Society is pleased to feature soloists Jessica Julin, soprano and Ben Wager, bass, and to welcome the Washington National Opera Children’s Chorus as guest choir on Boito’s Mefistofele. Jessica Julin, soprano has been praised for her “commanding voice,” and is a 2009 Grand Finalist in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Grand Auditions. She received her masters from Indiana University, studied at the Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia, and currently resides in Maryland. She won first prize awards in the J.P. Parkinson Competition, Lois Alba Aria Competition, and the Giagiari Bel Canto Competition.
Ben Wager, bass is a 2009 graduate of the Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia. This season, he debuted in Oslo with Den Norske Opera as Escamillo in Carmen and performed two roles with the Lyric Opera of Kansas City. Previous engagements include with the Nashville Opera, Deutsche Opera Berlin, Minnesota Opera, and Los Angeles Philharmonic. In 2012, The Washington Times praised him for his “perfect balance of graciousness [and] forthrightness” in a concert opera performance.
The Washington National Opera Children’s Chorus is comprised of many of the finest young singers, ages 8-14, from Washington, DC; Virginia; and Maryland. They appear frequently in WNO productions at the Kennedy Center. Recent performances include the world premiere of Jeanine Tesori’s The Lion, The Unicorn, and Me (2013) and the WNO premier of Rachel Portman’s The Little Prince (2014). They are directed by Will Breytspraak, Children’s Chorus Master, who is the Chair of Performing Arts at Maret School in Washington, DC.
A pre-concert talk by Peter Russell will be presented at 3:00 p.m. in Perry Auditorium (in the Cathedral tower). Peter Russell is a leading figure in the DC opera scene, having served as General Director of the Wolf Trap Opera Company and founding Washington Concert Opera before later taking on his current role as General Director of Vocal Arts DC.
About the Cathedral Choral Society: The Cathedral Choral Society is the resident symphonic chorus of Washington National Cathedral. Now in its 73rd season, the 140-voice chorus presents an inspiring concert season at the Cathedral and shares the joy of choral singing throughout the Greater Washington, DC Area through its community engagement programs. Its 2015/16 season will be announced the week of May 17.
For Tickets: Regularly priced tickets begin at $25. Tickets for children and students with valid ID under the age of 25 are $15. Seniors, veteran, and military may receive 10% off (excludes Premium Nave). Complimentary parking is included with ticket purchase in the Cathedral’s underground parking garage courtesy of the Cathedral Choral Society. To purchase tickets, or for additional information, please call (202) 537-2228 | (877) 537-2228 or visit the website, www.cathedralchoralsociety.org
Arlington-based Jane Franklin Dance presents Zip Through a Tight Space Gala on May 20, 2015 at 7pm at the Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall & Arts Center in Alexandria, VA.
WHAT: Join in for an evening of live performance at our annual Benefit in the lovely and spacious Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall & Arts Center. Dynamic performances feature a new inter generational dance work performed by former Jane Franklin Dance company members and their young children, live music by Brian Pagels and Erin Ryan in a premier collaboration, live music by NSO and Eclipse Chamber Orchestra members Alice Weinreb & Truman Harris in a new collaboration, and performances by Forty+, a group of performers past the age of 40. A catered reception and silent auction precede the performance. Jane Franklin Dance provides courtesy parking in the Beauregard Street Garage adjacent to the theatre.
A Pop-Up Art Exhibition entitled “Future Perfect” will be on display in the forum in conjunction with the Gala performance.
The benefit will support Jane Franklin Dance’s successful flagship programs and artistic projects including: Forty+ projects, dance education for youth and artistic projects for the 2015-2016 season including performances at the Capital Fringe Festival.
WHEN: Wednesday, May 20, 2015 @ 7:00 p.m.
WHERE: Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall & Arts Center
3001 N. Beauregard Street
Alexandria, VA
TICKETS: $40-$100, special group rates, student discounts, and new VIP pricing. Available online at www.janefranklin.com/performances/tickets or at the door.
A percentage of all event sales will be donated directly to the ballet on behalf of the Capella.
The Jete Society of The Washington Ballet invites you to join us on May 27 for an evening of rooftop cocktails and hor d’oeuvres at the Capella in Georgetown. Come on out to mingle with Washington Ballet dancers and fellow Jete Society members as we toast another successful season of performances, including ALICE in Wonderland, all while enjoying the breathtaking views of the Canal and Potomac.
Registration will be required for entry.
Please RSVP at http://madhatterscocktailparty.splashthat.com/ to purchase your ticket (includes red wine, white wine, and hors d’oeuvres).
On Thursday, May 28, seven top DC chefs will gather at Stanton & Green, Capitol Hill’s newest restaurant, for the return of Chefs Behind Bars, a cocktail event to benefit No Kid Hungry’s work to end childhood hunger in America. From 6:00 – 8:00 p.m., Washingtonians can enjoy signature drinks concocted by the city’s most renowned culinary talent, all while helping No Kid Hungry make sure all kids have the healthy food they need, every day.
Date: Thursday, May 28, 2015
Location: Stanton & Greene, 319 Pennsylvania Ave SE, Washington, DC 20003
Time: 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Admission: $45 in advance; $50 at the door
Throughout the evening, chefs Kyle Bailey (Birch & Barley), Hamilton Johnson (Vidalia), Adrian Salazar (Mango Tree), Louis Goral (Rural Society), Doron Petersan (FareWell and Sticky Fingers Eats & Sweets), Russell Jones (Jack Rose) and Mariah Tysz (Juniper at The Fairmont Washington, D.C.), will mix their favorite libations in support of No Kid Hungry. In addition to one-of-a-kind cocktails, guests will enjoy small bites from Stanton & Greene.
The Chefs Behind Bars happy hour will be hosted by DC’s Taste of the Nation for No Kid Hungry volunteer committee, hot off the heels of the April 2015 tasting benefit that raised more than $230,000 to help feed children in need more than two million healthy meals.
All Chefs Behind Bars guests will receive first access to tickets for next year’s DC’s Taste of the Nation for No Kid Hungry (coming April 2016) with a special discount code. One hundred percent of ticket proceeds from Taste of the Nation events support No Kid Hungry thanks to generous support from national presenting sponsors Citi and Sysco®, national media sponsor Food Network and national sponsor OpenTable.
Every Kid, Healthy Food, Every Day
One in five children in this country struggles with hunger, including nearly 31,000 kids in DC. No Kid Hungry is ending childhood hunger in this nation by ensuring that kids start the day with a nutritious breakfast and have healthy meals in the summer. Since the campaign’s launch, No Kid Hungry and its partners have connected kids struggling with hunger with more than 345 million healthy meals.
Tickets to the Chefs Behind Bars event can be purchased at join.nokidhungry.org/ChefsBehindBars
“The Tape Guy,” Argentinian born artist and designer, Hernan Gigena, will present his latest collection of fine artworks showcasing his notable masking tape on paper media with vibrant new inspiration. The series is called “Enchanted Garden,” and features pieces that convey both the fragility and the energy of life itself. They are on view for a limited showing on May 28th and 30th from 6-8 pm at the new Brick & Mortar Gallery and Bar (918 F St NW, Washington, DC 20004).
“This new project helped me to deal with the recent passing of my Grandmother, and gave me the chance to change something sad into something positive,” says Gigena. “With this series, I am sharing personal memories… and so many life lessons that she passed on to me. As a result, “Enchanted Garden” is a celebration of unconditional love.”
The storytelling of “Enchanted Garden” centers around the positive energy brought forth by Gigena’s selection of special neon and fluorescent colors, and how the experience changes — and shapes and figures seem to magically come alive — when viewed through 3D glasses.
Attendees will have the chance to ‘talk tape’ and other artistic interests with Gigena, while enjoying classic pre-prohibition and original cocktails crafted by notable mixologists Brian Zipin, Nikki Mannebach, and Will Sexton, as well as a menu of distinct food items by Prequel Executive Chef Scott Hoffner. Admission is free, RSVP required.
For more about the artist and his collection of works, visit http://www.
